Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-06-15

their own home. Then Mr. Mason
and his wife must pcrforce hear the
strange adventures Of the alligator
skin sachel, from the very beginning,
aud receive from his lips n true and
uncmbcllishcd account of the pursuit
and capture Of the willy Edwards.
from whom hail been SO successfully
recovered the fur-lincd cloak, which
had played IFS part in the story, to all
If which they listened with express
siOns Of unfcigued interest and wonder.
cit did me n good turn once" con-
c!uded Tad, in reference to the article
in question; ''now I've done u one. "
And he steadfastly refused to listen to
the gentlcman's proifcr Of money re-
ward, To- Miss Smiths secret satisfac-
ton. till Mr.. Mason, with great show
of affected indignation, tossed bill on
the table, beside the others. and told
rad to take it aud give it to foreign
missions or 10 the soldiers monument
fund-he didn't care which, or, If nc
thought better Of il, he might put il in
the sayings-bank.-As for himself the
money might lie there forever he
wouldn't touch it again. And, sum-
moning Mrs. Mason, who, in her graf
itude gave Tad hearty goodnight
kiss, her husband went To his room,
and banged the door behind him very
hard, as though lac were angry.
"Well, Tad, said Miss Smith, put
ting On her glasses and CHANGING at the
pile Of bills on the table, "this has
been one of the days, hasn't ftp Riye
hundred and-1fty dollarsr' she cx-
claimed, taking up the bill left by Mr.
Mason. "Well. wellr'
Its too much. every way" returned
Tad, who hardly knew whether he was
OH his head or his heels.
"Trin't too much" snapped Miss
Smith. THAT Atherton man, who
ac's rs though his spine was froze stiff.
ortcr give you an even thousand his
self. Look ut thcm i'munds-sixty-
live hundred dollars with and YOU
riskin' your life To captcr' 'cm back
from that bloodthirsty bu' glarw
Il wish. then, yoW'd take the money,
and put it somewhcrrs in the bank
where yours ~" finally said Tad,
who already was beginning to realize
what the French call "the embarrass-
mcnt of riches"
MAY be that would be best" re-
turned Miss Smith, thoughtfully; "but
must give you some sort of writing
to show for it, in case any thing hap
pens TO me-"
''Oh, dcar!" sighed Tad, "what
should l do If any thing DID happen to
you. I'd never find anybody else in the
whole world l should like TO work for
rs / do for you" Miss Smith was
strangely moved by this simple appeal,
but she had, rs she expressed it, "broke
down" once that evening, and didn't
propose To again. So she made no re-
ply. but busted herself in getting out
writing materials; rather to Tad's dis
appSintmcnt, for he had almost dared
to hope for some little manifestation
of the tenderness that he knew lay
under Miss Smiths crusty exterior.
Turning the lamp up little higher,
Miss Smith sat down TO write, and,
after considerable mental effort, sue
ceeded in drawing up the following re-
ceipt:
"Bixport, June %, ISL
This ccrt!acs that Rho.ia A. Smith have
this day Received five hundred and dfty dol
lars. To be deposited with my MlSey in Mid
dlcboro Bank. The same ~, dolls being the
property Of
What is your whole name, child"
asked Miss Smith. suSpcnding her pen
over the paper after writing the word
''of."
"rhadleus Thorne, num-" replied
Tad.
"What" exclaimed Miss Smith, drop
ing the pen.
"Thaddcus Thornc," repeated Tad, n
little louder.
"Oh, Lordr' said Miss Smith, aud
stared ut Tad SO wildly that ne almost
feared the events Of the day had affected
her brain very little.
"What was your mothers namepr
Miss Smith again asked, in n curiously
depressed tone.
"Margarita COnsuelo Smith," Tad
returned; II little hesitatingly. for it
had u rather romantic sound, and he
feared she might laugh at il.
ANY relations livingP" inquired
Miss Smith, In the same constrained
manner.
Tad shook his head.
81 suppose I've got on Aunt Rhoda
somewhere, no said. slowly. "but sie
was mad Mt mother for marrying
father, and never wrote her or any
thing. and mother never said much
about her.
"Oh, Tad!-Tal!'' cried Miss Smith,
throwing up her arms, "God knows
didn't mean to he orucl-it was nv
hateful prOud-spiritedncSs did it, and